Last time they did a general H!P audition was back in 2000, that's when we got Matsuura Aya and Sheki-Dol. But the last H!P audition that wasn't localized (they had auditons in Korea, Kansai region and Hokkaido) was the H!P Egg audition in 2004.

Seems like they are doing this because calling it a KSS Audition isn't going to catch any flies. This is definitely a honey trap. I hope they actually get some potential girls to join. In past auditions it's clear they like certain girls but not for the groups they are being put into and throw them into KSS till the next big audition or group appeared and put them in there. They've been doing it for years now. At least now they have one big catch-all audition instead of multiple auditions.

Every decent sized company has the no affiliation rule. Last year HKT48 dropped one of their new kenkyuusei after just a week once it came out she had been with another agency when she auditioned.

That's kinda silly. I get that H!P would not want someone, say, ex-AKB to join, but it eliminates all those at best part-time indie idols too, since technically whatever contract they have would still count as being with another agency. That leaves those who never even tried, or were unsuccessful, or already quit, while those determined and ambitious enough to become an idol and wanting to upgrade to H!P are not even allowed to compete.

I think I remember reading once that the kenshuusei have lessons either once or twice a month.

Every decent sized company has the no affiliation rule. Last year HKT48 dropped one of their new kenkyuusei after just a week once it came out she had been with another agency when she auditioned.

That's kinda silly. I get that H!P would not want someone, say, ex-AKB to join, but it eliminates all those at best part-time indie idols too, since technically whatever contract they have would still count as being with another agency. That leaves those who never even tried, or were unsuccessful, or already quit, while those determined and ambitious enough to become an idol and wanting to upgrade to H!P are not even allowed to compete.

I think I remember reading once that the kenshuusei have lessons either once or twice a month.

I honestly expected to hear a number of times a week.

Reina went nearly a decade without vocal lessons, it's not terribly surprising that girls who might never debut aren't getting multiple times a week training. Maybe it's more often now that they're specifically saying you must be able to come to Tokyo. In the past we've had trainees who only participated in the H!P concerts that were closer to their homes.

Seems like they are doing this because calling it a KSS Audition isn't going to catch any flies. This is definitely a honey trap. I hope they actually get some potential girls to join. In past auditions it's clear they like certain girls but not for the groups they are being put into and throw them into KSS till the next big audition or group appeared and put them in there. They've been doing it for years now. At least now they have one big catch-all audition instead of multiple auditions.

The "honey trap" angle was the first thing I thought of, too: accepting girls as young as 9 is the giveaway. They probably see multiple graduations from existing groups on the horizon and just want to be prepared to both fill those slots and ensure that KSS isn't drained too much when they do.

Starting from November 13, title of the show is Shoujo-tachi no Ketsudan ~Mitchaku!! Hello! Project 20th Anniversary Audition.

The auditions will be watched and probably commented by several H!P OGs and current members, first episode being Yaguchi, Yasuda, Kumai, Wada, Kanazawa, second Yaguchi, Yoshizawa, Maimi, Wada, Kanazawa.

This is how they should have been doing MM auditions this whole time... I mean, at least we get to see some "live" audition footage! There's no connection when you know the winners and just look back at THEIR audition process and no one else's. The audition is partly what made Sayashi, Sayashi.

The 2nd stage was split between Tokyo and Osaka. In Tokyo there are bilingual twins and a girl whose parents are living vicariously through her who is trying to achieve her parents' dreams. In Osaka there's a middle schooler with a perfectly proportioned body and an Oita Onsen idol.

They're quite an interesting bunch. Not sure which one I'd like the most, but so far there are two three things that stick out to me:

How can you only recently get internet access when you're 14? I mean it's not impossible, not sure where she's from and how strict her parents are, but that's really... surprising. And while they're not super popular, I'd say H!P is at least somewhat known through Oricon. Nothing against her though, just surprised.

Ruru is 12 and auditioned for MM twice? I mean if she tried the Shinseiki auditions she would've fit the age requirements but that's determination, trying out at 10.

Yuriya is out by the next round. She's cute and I've got a soft spot for her because our names sound alike, but she's way too child-like.